Chapter Dombey to Donica of D by Brewer's Readers Handbook

the world-famous “Donation of Pepin,” on which rested the whole fabric of the temporal power of the popes (A.D. 755). Victor Emmanuel, king of Italy, dispossessed the pope of his temporal sovereignty, and added the papal states to the united kingdom of Italy, over which he reigned (1870).

Dondasch, an Oriental giant, contemporary with Seth, to whose service he was attached. He needed no weapons, because he could destroy anything by his muscular force.

Donegild , the wicked mother of Alla king of Northumberland. Hating Custance because she was a Christian, Donegild set her adrift with her infant son. When Alla returned from Scotland, and discovered this act of cruelty, he put his mother to death; then going to Rome on a pilgrimage, met his wife and child, who had been brought there a little time previously.—Chaucer: Canterbury Tales (“The Man of Law’s Tale,” 1388).

Donet, the first grammar put into the hands of scholars. It was that of Donatus the grammarian, who taught in Rome in the fourth century, and was the preceptor of St. Jerome. When “Graunde Amour” was sent to study under lady Gramer, she taught him, as he says—

First my donet, and then my accedence.
   —Hawes: The Pastime of Plesure, v. (time, Henry VII.).

Donica, only child of the lord of Arkinlow (an elderly man). Young Eberhard loved her, and the Finnish maiden was betrothed to him. Walking one evening by the lake, Donica heard the sound of the death-spectre, and fell lifeless in the arms of her lover. Presently the dead maiden received a supernatural vitality, but her cheeks were wan, her lips livid, her eyes lustreless, and her lap-dog howled when it saw her. Eberhard still resolved to marry her, and to church they went. But when he took Donica’s hand into his own it was cold and clammy; the demon fled from her, and the body dropped a corpse at the feet of the bridegroom.—Southey: Donica (a Finnish ballad).